Operating systemAn operating system (OS) is system software that manages computer hardware and software resources, and provides common services for computer programs. Time-sharing operating systems schedule tasks for efficient use of the system and may also include accounting software for cost allocation of processor time, mass storage, peripherals, and other resources.Device driverA device driver is software that operates or controls a particular type of device that is attached to a computer. A driver provides a software interface to hardware devices, enabling other software to access hardware functions without needing to know precise details about the hardware. A driver communicates with the device through the computer bus or communications subsystem to which the hardware connects.
Computer programInstructions a computer can executeSource code for a computer program written in the JavaScript language. It demonstrates the appendChild() method. The method adds a new child node to an existing parent node. It is commonly used to dynamically modify the structure of an HTML document.A computer program is a sequence or set of instructions in a programming language for a computer to execute.
BootloaderA bootloader, also spelled as boot loader or called bootstrap loader, is a computer program that is responsible for booting a computer and booting an operating system. If it also provides an interactive menu with multiple boot choices then it is often called a boot manager. When a computer is turned off, its software—including operating systems, application code, and data—remains stored on non-volatile memory.
Input/outputIn computing, input/output (I/O, i/o, or informally io or IO) is the communication between an information processing system, such as a computer, and the outside world, such as another computer system, peripherals, or a human operator. Inputs are the signals or data received by the system and outputs are the signals or data sent from it. The term can also be used as part of an action; to "perform I/O" is to perform an input or output operation.SoftwareSoftware (SW) consists of computer programs that instruct the execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications. The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital computers in the mid-20th century. Early programs were written in the machine language specific to the hardware.
Computer memoryComputer memory stores information, such as data and programs, for immediate use in the computer; instructions fetched by the computer, and data fetched and stored by those instructions, are located in computer memory. The terms memory, main memory, and primary storage are also used for computer memory. Computer memory is often referred to as RAM, meaning random-access memory, although some older forms of computer memory, such as drum memory, are not random-access.
ComputerProgrammable machine that processes dataComputers and computing devices from different eras—left to right, top to bottom: Early vacuum-tube computer (ENIAC)Mainframe computer (IBM System/360)Smartphone (LYF Water 2)Desktop computer (IBM ThinkCentre S50 with monitor)Supercomputer (IBM Summit)A computer is a machine that can be programmed to automatically carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations (computation).
Cache (computing)In computing, a cache ( ) is a hardware or software component that stores data so that future requests for that data can be served faster; the data stored in a cache might be the result of an earlier computation or a copy of data stored elsewhere. A cache hit occurs when the requested data can be found in a cache, while a cache miss occurs when it cannot.
BootingIn computing, booting is the process of starting a computer as initiated via hardware such as a physical button on the computer or by a software command. After it is switched on, a computer's central processing unit (CPU) has no software in its main memory, so some process must load software into memory before it can be executed. This may be done by hardware or firmware in the CPU, or by a separate processor in the computer system.
Central processing unitCentral computer component that executes instructionsCore i9-14900KF, a 2023 CPU made by IntelInside a central processing unit: The integrated circuit of Intel's Xeon 3060, first manufactured in 2006A central processing unit (CPU), also known as a central processor, main processor, or simply processor, is the primary processor in a given computer.
PeripheralA peripheral device, or simply peripheral, is an auxiliary hardware device that a computer uses to transfer information externally. A peripheral is a hardware component that is accessible to and controlled by a computer but is not a core component of the computer. It can communicate with a computer through wired or wireless connections.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.